UNIQUE paintings used to plan scenes for Gone With The Wind are to be auctioned for an estimated £70,000.

The watercolours portray setpieces from the 1939 movie including the burning of Atlanta and Scarlett O’Hara and Rhett Butler fleeing the Unionist army.

The paintings were completed up to 10 months prior to filming, to help camera operators, costume makers, set designers and prop teams plan the way scenes would appear on screen.

Some were painted by Wilbur G Kurtz, an acclaimed artist and historian championed by Margaret Mitchell, author of the original book.

Others were created by Dorothea Holt, one of the first women working in the male-dominated Hollywood art departments.

The watercolours also include Scarlett at Tara, her family’s plantation in Georgia where the civil war drama is largely set. But none show Vivian Leigh, who starred as Scarlett alongside Clark Gable as Rhett, because she was not cast until filming began.

The paintings are being sold by ex-studio worker Jim Tumblin, who has amassed a vast collection of original memorabilia from the Metro-GoldwynMayer film.

Kathleen Guzman, of Heritage Auctions, which is staging next month’s sale in New York, said: “These are some of the most iconic images from the film, such as the burning of Atlanta.

“Very rarely does memorabilia of this calibre come to market.” The sale will also include a dress worn by Leigh as Scarlett, which Mr Tumblin bought for £15 and is expected to fetch £100,000.